2025’s Most Toxic Dating Trends: Behaviors You Need to Avoid

Dating in 2025 feels like walking through a minefield of behaviors that can wreak havoc on relationships. We all know about ghosting and breadcrumbing by now, but there’s a darker undercurrent of toxic dating trends emerging that you might not see coming.

To be honest, if, and when, I’m ever single again, I will likely remain that way, especially knowing what a dumpster fire it all is.

There are a lot of creeps, incels, and bitter men out there that I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole.

I know I’m not alone, especially for my age group (Gen X) as there is an alarming decline in dating among women of all ages.

To those of you still going for that “silver cup” in the modern dating world, my hat is off to you. You’re a braver person than me, and you have a much higher pain tolerance.

These patterns often fly under the radar, but they do real damage to emotional well-being and connection. Not to mention causing a lot of emotional exhaustion, which is what I feel just thinking of putting all that effort into getting to know someone, just to end up stuck in a toxic relationship with a toxic male attitude.

No thanks!

I dont have any cats, but if I did, I’d be happy enough not to have to deal with all the game playing that goes on with modern dating.

Toxic Dating Trends That Range From Shallow to Dangerous

Let’s break down some of the most insidious trends in modern dating that you need to avoid.

1. Situationship Recycling

In 2025, many daters are falling back into old “situationships”—those undefined, commitment-free pseudo-relationships. With the rise of ‘convenience’ as a toxic dating trend, people recycle their old flames for comfort without any intention of commitment, leading to emotional burnout and confusion.

2. Eco-Ghosting

While ghosting has been on the list of toxic dating trends for a while, this year it’s evolved into “eco-ghosting.” This is when someone leaves a relationship under the guise of being “too busy” saving the environment or focusing on important causes.

It’s a convenient way to end things while looking like the better person, leaving the other party blindsided and hurt.

3. Breadcrumb Binging

Breadcrumbing—where someone gives minimal attention just to keep the other person hanging—has become even more rampant in 2025.

Now, with so many people focusing on their careers or personal growth, they drop just enough hints to stay in your orbit without any real intention of commitment, making emotional manipulation even more widespread.

4. AI-Curated Romance

As AI chatbots and virtual dating assistants become more integrated into online modern dating platforms, some individuals are outsourcing their flirting and initial conversation to algorithms. While it may seem efficient, it creates an inauthentic connection, leading to awkward real-life encounters when the charm of an AI-driven personality wears off.

5. Cuffing Season 2.0

The pandemic brought back a more intense version of cuffing season, where people jump into temporary relationships for companionship, particularly during colder months or life’s difficult phases. In 2025, this trend has worsened, with people diving into short-lived, surface-level relationships purely to avoid loneliness.

6. Faux Polyamory

With open relationships and polyamory gaining mainstream visibility, some daters now use the guise of polyamory to avoid commitment altogether. They claim to want multiple partners to seem modern or emotionally evolved, but in reality, they use it as an excuse for emotional distance and inconsistency, often manipulating those who desire real connection.

7. Emotional Drainage Dating

Instead of seeking meaningful emotional connections, some people are using dating apps as a form of therapy, venting all their personal issues without any intention of truly getting to know the other person. This leaves their matches feeling emotionally drained rather than connected.

8. Ghosting with a Twist (Slow Fade)

The “slow fade” has intensified, where instead of outright ghosting, people gradually reduce communication until the other party gets the hint. It’s less abrupt but equally hurtful as the person slowly distances themselves without clear communication, leaving their partner confused and questioning everything.

9. Location Flexing

In 2025, “location flexing” is the new relationship brag in toxic dating trends. People now show off their wanderlust or fast-paced lifestyle by planning dates around exotic or trendy locations. However, it’s often just a ploy for attention and social media clout, with no real intention of building a connection or spending meaningful time together.

10. Exploitation of Vulnerability (Love Scams)

With more people opening up about mental health, some have weaponized vulnerability in dating. Scammers prey on those going through tough times, using sympathy as a tool to manipulate and exploit their targets emotionally or financially, making modern dating even more dangerous.

These trends highlight how toxic dating trends continue to evolve, often in problematic ways that prioritize self-interest over genuine connection.

11. Monkey Branching

Monkey branching is when someone in a relationship starts securing their next potential partner before ending things with their current one. Just like a monkey swings from one branch to another without letting go, people who monkey branch keep a new romantic interest in the wings as a safety net before moving on.

In 2025, this trend has become even more common with the ease of swiping on modern dating apps, as people line up new prospects without truly ending their current relationships, leading to a lack of closure and trust issues.

12. Paperclipping

Inspired by the infamous Clippy from Microsoft Word, paperclipping is when an ex or former fling pops back into your life just to keep you hooked, but with no real intention of rekindling the relationship.

It’s a form of emotional manipulation, where they “clip” you back into their orbit with a random text, social media like, or message after months of silence. The problem in 2025 is that with digital connections becoming more blurred, this behavior is on the rise, creating false hope or emotional confusion for people who are trying to move on.

13. Micro-Cheating

You’ve probably heard of cheating, but what about micro-cheating? It’s not about physical betrayal—it’s the subtle acts that violate trust without crossing obvious boundaries. Think constant flirtation, liking provocative posts on social media, or keeping conversations with potential romantic interests going.

It leaves people questioning their partner’s loyalty and creates emotional unease. It’s dangerous because it’s easy to dismiss: “I’m just being friendly” or “It’s not a big deal.” In reality, this trend chips away at trust and undermines emotional safety in a relationship.

14. Submarine-ing

Imagine this: someone you’ve dated goes quiet for weeks or months, seemingly ghosting you. Just when you’ve started moving on, they resurface with no explanation, acting as if nothing happened.

That’s submarine-ing, one of the toxic dating trends people tend to overlook. It’s not just confusing—it’s emotionally destabilizing. This behavior keeps you on the hook, unsure of whether to fully let go or remain hopeful. It’s manipulative, as it robs you of closure and dangles the potential for something more, leaving you stuck in emotional limbo.

15. Prowling

Not many people talk about prowling, but it’s one of the stealthiest toxic dating trends in modern dating. Prowling happens when someone keeps an eye on your life—whether by watching your stories, reacting to your posts, or subtly keeping tabs on you—without making any real moves to pursue a relationship.

It’s a low-effort way to keep you interested, feeding off the attention you give them without actually investing in a relationship. Prowlers thrive on validation, and the worst part is, it often leaves the other person waiting around, misinterpreting their sporadic attention as genuine interest.

16. Cushioning

Cushioning is on the most particularly sneaky toxic dating trends, where someone in a committed relationship keeps a few “backups” around—people they flirt with or maintain friendly relationships with—just in case their current relationship fails. It’s like having a safety net, but the emotional harm it does is undeniable.

Cushioning creates an emotional distance in the main relationship and often leaves the “cushions” unknowingly complicit in the betrayal. It’s a sign of insecurity and emotional immaturity and causes long-term damage to trust, both in the relationship and for the people being “cushioned.”

17. Love Bombing, Then Ghosting

While love bombing isn’t new, the 2025 twist on this list of toxic dating trends is the immediate withdrawal that follows. Someone showers you with excessive affection, attention, and gifts, making you feel like you’re on cloud nine. But once they feel they have you hooked, they vanish without warning.

This whiplash of extreme intimacy followed by sudden distance is emotional abuse. It leaves you questioning everything—why they left, what you did wrong, and if the connection was ever real. This has evolved to be even more intense due to the instant gratification of modern dating apps.

18. Revenge Swiping

It’s 2025, and people have found a new way to process their breakups—by revenge swiping. Instead of working through their feelings, people are jumping back on dating apps immediately after a breakup, swiping right on anyone and everyone to validate themselves or make their ex jealous.

It’s not just toxic for them, but it also creates shallow, meaningless connections for those they match with. Revenge swiping is all about avoidance, and it leads to frustration, false hope, and emotional entanglement for all parties involved.

19. Soft Launching a Relationship

This trend feels harmless, but it can be emotionally damaging. Soft launching a relationship happens when someone subtly introduces their new romantic partner on social media without fully acknowledging it.

A hand here, a foot there—teasing their audience while keeping things ambiguous. For the partner being soft launched, it can feel like a form of emotional manipulation. They’re present in someone’s life but never fully acknowledged, kept in a state of half-existence that prevents the relationship from moving forward with clarity.

20. Sober Fishing

Sober fishing is the deceptive practice of pretending to live a sober lifestyle to attract someone who does. This trend started gaining ground as wellness culture took off, with more people seeking partners who value health and a clean lifestyle.

However, once someone feels secure in the relationship, their true habits—excessive drinking or drug use—resurface. It’s deceitful and disingenuous, leaving the person who sought a sober connection feeling betrayed and misled. It’s yet another way dishonesty manifests in modern dating.

21. Consent Baiting

This one is particularly dangerous and often goes unnoticed. Consent baiting happens when someone initially respects your boundaries but later pressures or manipulates you into changing your mind. This might look like saying “it’s okay, we’ll take it slow” at first, only to later guilt-trip or emotionally manipulate you into doing something you’re uncomfortable with.

It’s toxic because it creates an illusion of respect and understanding, only to turn coercive later on. In a world where consent is vital, this tactic undermines the very idea of mutual respect in relationships.

Conclusion

In 2025, toxic dating trends are evolving with the times, becoming more subtle, yet equally harmful. Modern dating apps, social media, and our fast-paced lives have made it easier to engage in these toxic behaviors. Recognizing these patterns early on can save you from unnecessary heartache. Whether it’s micro-cheating, future faking, or revenge swiping, it’s essential to protect yourself emotionally and establish boundaries. Awareness is your best defense against these toxic trends in the modern dating landscape.

By understanding these trends, you’ll navigate the dating world with more clarity and confidence—and avoid getting caught in these destructive cycles.